Phalaenopsis plant named &#39;isis&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis orchid named ‘Isis’ characterized by broad elliptic leaves; green/brown stem; showy light purple flowers with dark purple stripes, and white margins and bases; dull, green leaves; and freely flowering with 10-15 flowers and buds per raceme.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis orchid, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name‘Isis’. The genus Phalaenopsis is a member of the family Orchidaceae.

[0002] Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, MalayArchipelago and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

[0003] Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

[0004] Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, oftenwith many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments.

[0005] Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

[0006] The new cultivar is a product of a breeding program carried outby the inventor, Ronie van Rijsselberghe. The new cultivar is a resultof a cross of two unnamed non-commercial varieties owned by theapplicant made in September 1993. The new cultivar ‘Isis’ was selectedfrom the progeny of the stated cross in Lochristi by the inventor inMarch 1996.

[0007] Asexual propagation by tissue culture, performed by the inventorin 'Lochristi, Belgium in March 1996, was used to increase the number ofplants for evaluation and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as here in disclosed for ‘Isis’ are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The newcultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The following traits have been repeatedly observed to becharacteristics which in combination distinguish ‘Isis’ from generallyavailable seedling-derived Phalaenopsis common in commercialcultivation:

[0009] 1. broad elliptic leaves;

[0010] 2. green/brown stem;

[0011] 3. showy light purple flowers with dark purple stripes, and whitemargins and bases;

[0012] 4. dull, green leaves; and

[0013] 5. freely flowering with 10-15 flowers and buds per raceme.

[0014] ‘Isis’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, fertilization and daylength without any change in the genotype. The following observations,measurements and values describe plants grown in Lochristi, Belgiumunder a glass covered greenhouse in a 12 cm container under conditionswhich approximate commercial Phalaenopsis production conditions. Plantswere grown for about 45 weeks after planting. During the first 25 weeksof production, day and night temperatures averaged 25 degrees Celsius;during the next four weeks of production, day and night temperaturesaveraged 18 degrees Celsius; and for the last weeks of production, dayand night temperatures averaged 20 degrees Celsius. Lowest temperaturetolerance is 15 degrees Celsius, highest is 38 degrees Celsius.

[0015] Perhaps the closest commercial comparison to ‘Isis’ can be madeto ‘Artemis’ (U.S. plant patent application Ser. No. 09/797,254). Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijswijk, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Phalaenopsis have wider leaves. The leaves have a midribwhich has the same colour as the rest of the leaf whereas the midrib of‘Artemis’ is dark purple. The leaves of ‘Artemis’ are glossier than theleaves of ‘Isis’. The underside of the leaf of ‘Artemis’ is green withpurple spots and a purple margin and midrib whereas the leaf of ‘Isis’is green with a only a small purple margin. The inflorescence stem of‘Artemis’ is darker than the inflorescence stem of ‘Isis’. The flowersof ‘Artemis’ are much darker purple than the flowers of ‘Isis’ whichalso have white margins and the base of the petals are white whereas thepetals bases of ‘Artemis are purple. The petals of ‘Artemis’ are muchlighter purple than the petals of ‘Isis’. ‘Artemis’ has a much shorterstem and starts producing flowers much lower on the stem (approximately10 cm) than ‘Isis’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] The accompanying photographic drawings show typical plant andflower characteristics of ‘Isis’ with colors being as true as possiblewith drawings of this type. The photographs were taken approximately atnoon on Dec. 28, 2001 in Rijswijk, The Netherlands.

[0017] The first drawing shows a 50-week old plant

[0018] The second drawing shows a comparison photo of a 50-months oldplants of ‘Isis’ to the left and ‘Artemis’ to the right. The photo inthe right upper corner shows a close-up comparison of ‘Artemis (left)and ‘Isis’ (right). The photo in the right lower corner shows a close-upof the leaves (‘Isis’ left and ‘Artemis’ right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0019] All color references are measured against The Royal HorticulturalSociety (RHS) Colour Chart. Colors are approximate as color depends onhorticultural practices such as light level and fertilization rate,among others, without, however any change in genotype.

[0020] Botanical Classification: Phalaenopsis

[0021]Commercial.—Phalaenopsis c.v. Isis.

[0022] Propagation: Asexual propagation by tissue culture

[0023] Plant: Under appropriate growing conditions, plants attain amature size of 60 cm in height and 35 cm in width.

[0024]Vigor.—Moderate.

[0025] Leaves:

[0026]Form.—The leaf blade shape is obovate with an obtuse to retuseapex and a cuneate base. The margins are entire. The midrib is furrowed.The leaf blade is smooth and leathery on both sides. The upper leafsurface is smooth, slightly furrowed and leathery. The leaves are smoothand very leathery.

[0027]Size.—Leaf blades of a mature-sized plant are 20 cm in length and9.2 cm in width.

[0028]Veins.—Venation parallel, midrib furrowed, veins have the samecolor as the leaf blades, upper side green; in between RHS 137A and 146A(Yellow-green Group), under side yellow-green; varying between RHS 146Aand RHS 146B.

[0029]Color.—Mature Leaf Upper surface: Green to yellow-green; from RHS137A to 146A Mature Leaf Lower surface: Yellow-green; varying betweenRHS 146A and RHS 146B Immature Leaf Upper surface: Green toyellow-green; from RHS 137A to RHS 146A Immature Leaf Upper surface:Yellow-green; varying between RHS 146A and RHS 146B.

[0030] Inflorescence:

[0031]Number of flowers per inflorescence.—Average 14.

[0032]Blooming season.—January through March in Northern Europe.

[0033]Lastingness of blooms.—Approximately two weeks.

[0034]Blooms subject to fading.—Average 14 days.

[0035]Sepals.—Shape: Broad elliptic Description: Sepals smooth, topobtuse to obtusely acute, base broad cuneate, margins entire. UpperSurface Color: Purple; varying between RHS 77C and RHS 77D, even lightertowards the margins. Markings (venation) darker: purple; RHS N78B.Lateral sepals have numerous dots at the base, average size 0.5 mm,purple in color; RHS N78A. Lower Surface Color: Purple; varying betweenRHS 77C and RHS 77D, lighter towards the margins. Markings (venation)darker: purple; RHS N78C. Size: average length 4 cm, average width 3 cm.

[0036]Petals.—Shape: 2 lateral petals reniform Description: 2 lateralpetals are smooth, top rounded, base broad acuminate. Upper SurfaceColor: Purple; RHS N78C becoming paler towards the margins, markings(venation) darker purple; RHS N78B Lower Surface Color: Purple; from RHS77B to RHS N78C becoming paler towards the margins, markings (venation)darker purple; RHS N78B Size: (lateral petals) average length 4 cm,average width 4.8 cm.

[0037]Labellum.—Shape: Three-parted (lobed) Description: Lateral lobesrhomboidal/deltoid, top obtusely acute, dorsal lobe inverted deltoid,top cleft into two horn-like projections, which are twisted and curled.In the middle of the labellum (upper side), where the lobes meet, thereis a small elevation, average height 4 mm, average width 5 mm, thiselevation is cleft and almost two-parted. It is yellow in color; RHS 9Bwith greyed-purple dots and stripes (RHS 184A) Upper Surface Color:Purple; RHS N79C, lateral lobes more reddish-purple (RHS 72A), basewhite (RHS 155A), striped greyed-purple; RHS 184A. Lower Surface Color:Purple to red-purple; 72A/B-N79C, lateral lobes white at the base (RHS155A) Size: Lateral lobes: average length 2.1 cm, average width 1.5 cm,dorsal lobe: average length 2.4 cm, average width 2.1 cm, the horn-likeprojections have an average length of 1.8 cm (they are twisted andcurled).

[0038]Apex.—Lateral lobes: obtusely acute, dorsal lobe cleft into twohorn-like projections.

[0039]Base.—Lateral lobes cuneate, dorsal lobe acute.

[0040]Raceme.—Diameter: Average 11 cm. Height: Average 25 cm (measuredfrom lowest flower). Description: Flowering stem rounded, smooth andwith a dull appearance. On the stems are several (average: 8) sheatingleafy stipules, shaped broad deltoid, average length 4 mm, average width7 mm, green color (in between RHS 137A and RHS N189A). Average number offlowers and flower buds per stem: 14. Color: Dark greyed-green, darkerthan RHS N189A, speckled green; RHS 137A.

[0041] Reproductive Organs: Column club-shaped and appearing to be inthe same (basic) color as the petals and sepals. All reproductive organsare united in the column.

[0042]Column.—Length: Average 9 mm Width: Average 6 mm Color: Purple;from RHS 77B to RHS 77D, partly very pale purple; RHS 76C to almostwhite.

[0043]Pollen.—Pollen united in two stalked pollinia (pollen masses),pollinia shaped globular, average diameter 1 mm, orange; RHS 24A.

[0044]Stigma.—Two stigmatic surfaces on top of the column, stigmas notstalked and unable to define as separate reproductive organs, but partof the column. Shape: The stigmatic surfaces are rounded, slightlyconvex Dimension: Average diameter 2 mm, average height 0.5 mm Color:White; RHS 155A.

[0045]Styles.—No styles, the column holds both pollen and stigmas(stigmatic surfaces) Shape: No styles, the column holds both pollen andstigmas (stigmatic surfaces). Dimension: No styles, the column holdsboth pollen and stigmas (stigmatic surfaces). Color: No styles, thecolumn holds both pollen and stigmas (stigmatic surfaces).

[0046]Ovary.—Dimension: Average length 4 mm, average width 2.5 mm Color:White; RHS 155A, flushed pink to greenish-white; RHS 157B.

[0047]Pedicel.—Rounded, slightly glossy Dimension: Average length 2.8cm, average width 3 mm Color: Green; varying from RHS 143C to RHS 143D,the darker (RHS 143C) also visible as axillary stripes, due toresupination of flower when opening.

[0048] Roots: Fleshy, rounded, slightly glossy, average diameter 5 mm,green in color, from RHS 138A to RHS 143A. Time to initiate roots isabout 28 days at temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius in the summer andabout 42 days in the winter. Time to produce to develop a rooted plantfrom a tissue-cultured plantlet is about 168 days in the summer attemperatures of 24 degrees Celsius and 270 days at the same temperaturein the Winter.

[0049] Pest Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: No observations to date

[0050] General Observations: Broad elliptic leaves; green inflorescencestem; showy light purple flowers with dark purple stripes and whitemargins; and dull, green leaves and purple spots; and freely floweringwith 10-15 flowers and buds per raceme.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis orchid named‘Isis’, as illustrated and described.